Kevin Kangethe, suspect in Boston murder of girlfriend Margaret Mbitu, ordered extradited to U.S. from Kenya
Kevin Kangethe, suspect in Boston murder of girlfriend Margaret Mbitu, ordered extradited to U.S. from Kenya
Nairobi Court Approves Extradition of Kevin Kang’ethe to the U.S. for Murder Trial
Press Release:
A Nairobi court has granted the extradition of Kevin Kang’ethe, 42, to the United States, where he faces trial for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu. The ruling was issued on Thursday by Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina. Mbitu, 31, was found deceased in an SUV at Boston’s Logan Airport in November 2023.
In his decision, Magistrate Onyina confirmed that the extradition request met the legal criteria. He stated that the evidence presented established a connection between Kang’ethe and the alleged first-degree murder. The court clarified that its role was not to determine Kang’ethe’s guilt but to assess whether the case warranted extradition.
“This court is not a trial court and will not determine the guilt or innocence of the respondent,” Onyina said. “That responsibility lies with the trial court in the United States.”
Kang’ethe, who had been the subject of a three-month international manhunt, was initially arrested in Kenya after fleeing the U.S. He managed to escape from custody but was later recaptured following a new manhunt and an investigation that led to the arrest of several individuals, including police officers and a lawyer accused of aiding his escape.
During his arrest, Kang’ethe was found with items belonging to Mbitu, including her driver’s license and bank cards. This evidence reinforced the connection between him and the crime, as presented by Prosecution Counsel Vincent Monda.
Monda emphasized that the magistrate’s role was to determine if there was a sufficient link between Kang’ethe and the criminal incident, not to evaluate the merits of the case.
“The evidence clearly shows a link between Kang’ethe and the deceased,” Monda said. “The role of the magistrate is to ensure that the extradition request is valid and justified.”
The court has approved the extradition request and Kang’ethe will be conveyed to the U.S. to face charges of first-degree murder under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 265, Section 1.
